Crossroads development in spotlight

A Hilton, a Cracker Barrel, regional and national conferences … a promising vision for the future was on display Saturday afternoon.

A standing room only crowd turned out to hear the master plan for the Crossroads development project, packing the conference room at the Crossroads Center in Belmont.

The $15 million project calls for a new fueling station, a restaurant, and a hotel with a conference center at the site of the former truck stop located at the intersection of state Route 19 and county Road 20, just off I-86.

The project is being spurred by Rochester-based Hemisphere Management LLC and Novat Corp. LLC, with an assist from the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency, which hosted Saturday’s public hearing.

Developer Pepsy Kettavong offered a presentation of the plans for the site. Kettavong and his team envision the Crossroads as a destination, drawing visitors to Allegany County while raising opportunities for the county’s residents as well.

“We want to create a project where people will come from different places, and even the local community will go and enjoy (the project),” Kettavong said. “We want to do something different. We don’t want to do anything like anyone else has been doing. And lastly we want to make sure economically it’s sound … We want to be a developer that comes to you and says well, this is our idea, tell us your idea and collectively we’ll come up with a product that everyone can take pride in and be profitable.”

Kettavong and the project engineer, Glenn Thornton, presented their ideas for the site to the large audience. The Crossroads project sits on 32 acres. The developers are currently searching for national franchises to commit to a restaurant and a fueling station at the site. Some potential restaurants include a Cracker Barrel, a Tim Horton’s and a Denny’s. Fastrac and Express Mart were mentioned as possible fueling stations.

The developers are considering a Tru by Hilton and a Sleep Inn for the hotel, which will have 84-90 beds with a target of prices between $79-110 a night. The conference room, with capacity for 300, may be built atop the hotel, bringing the building to five stories. The hotel will sit on two acres with 187 parking spaces. Plans call for the hotel to be visible from I-86. The building will border federally designated wetlands, a wooded area that will be left undisturbed, offering idyllic views in the summer and fall.

The project will draw water from a new line being installed to Friendship. Developers anticipate breaking ground on the hotel in September or August. Kettavong noted that the project’s location is both a positive and a challenge. Traffic estimates peg 6,248 cars a day on I-86, with 4,541 on state Route 19 and 1,000 on county Road 20. In contrast, one of his projects on Scottsville Road in suburban Rochester draws around 46,000 a day, with 100,000 nearby on the expressway.

Those numbers make turning the project into a destination point all the more important, Kettavong said. Plus, recent hotel studies have indicated the county could support at least a 90 bed hotel at the site. The developers are aiming for a mid-sized hotel that fits the needs of the area. At full capacity, the project is expected to create about 50 full and part time jobs.

Kettavong opened the floor to comments and questions from the community.

Several individuals expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of a Cracker Barrel in the county. One man said that a Cracker Barrel would draw visitors to the county from the Hornell and Olean areas. He said he currently drives to Horseheads to eat at the Cracker Barrel there. Kettavong said a Cracker Barrel is his top choice, but the company would have to sign on to the project.

In regards to the 6,000 square foot conference center at the hotel, Kettavong said the space could be partitioned to accommodate varying events, whether they draw 100, 200 or 300 visitors. The conference center will rely on catering for food.

Several individuals asked about the fueling station and encouraged the return of a truck stop to the site. Kettavong said that would depend on the company that ultimately commits to the site. He noted there’s a balancing act between having a hotel and conference center in tandem with a truck stop. Kettavong is meeting with reps from Fastrac this week.

One individual encouraged that Allegany County’s history be incorporated into the hotel. Kettavong said there was a possibility for some custom decorations inside the building.

Kettavong was asked about a new name for the site. He said the Crossroads would be ideal going forward given its past marketing.

The hotel, restaurant and fueling station are Phase I of the project. The 32 acre site offers ample space for a Phase II. Kettavong said those plans are still up in the air and the group will leave no stone unturned in generating additional ideas for the site.

The hotel construction is expected to take about a year after it breaks ground.

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